Get ready to uncover Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes on this incredible tour. Your adventure kicks off in Reykjavik, the world’s northernmost capital, where you’ll immerse yourself in Icelandic history, culture, and gastronomy. From here, you’ll visit the three iconic attractions of Golden Circle - Þingvellir National Park, the geothermal wonders of the Geysir hot spring area and iconic Gulfoss waterfall, after which you’ll head towards the Southern Coast of Iceland. After visiting Skogafoss, you’ll tick off Vatnajökull glacier, Iceland's highest peak Hvannadalshnúkur, Skaftafell, and the breathtaking Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Next, you’ll continue your journey towards the East Fjords, stopping at Egilsstaðir, the picturesque town on the banks of the Lagarfljót River, and at the Wilderness Centre. Continue the journey around picturesque Lake Mývatn towards Akureyri, stopping at the stunningly beautiful Goðafoss Waterfall, known as the "Waterfall of the Gods." From there, you’ll journey west to Borgarfjörður, where you’ll witness the impressive Deildartunguhver hot spring and the stunning Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls. Next, explore the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, with highlights including the striking black sands of Djúpalónssandur beach and the remains of the British trawler Epine.The tour concludes as you return to Reykjavik, wrapping up this unforgettable journey through Iceland’s natural wonders.
Our South Greenland Adventure: The Majestic Alpine Arctic itinerary is designed for travelers seeking to explore the majestic fjords, glaciers and mountains of South Greenland. This itinerary offers guests one–of–a–kind excursions exclusive to Quark Expeditions—some of them only made possible by our newest ship, the technologically–advanced Ultramarine, which is equipped with two twin–engine helicopters. On this journey, you can be as active as you like, or you can opt for more relaxing, immersive experiences. Developed in partnership with local communities—a first of its kind in expedition travel—this itinerary offers unprecedented opportunities to explore the majesty of South Greenland’s diverse fjordlands. Ultramarine’s two helicopters will take you to areas in South Greenland that others can’t reach, especially for off–ship excursions. Some of these, such as our Heli Hiking and the Greenland Ice Sheet Experience, are included for all guests, who can also enjoy hikes, community visits and Zodiac cruises. This voyage—accessible to guests of all fitness levels—offers something for everyone, whether you’re interested in soaking up the serene mountain views, sailing through the icebergs on a Zodiac cruise, or trying optional activities such as heli–hiking or camping in style on the shores of Tasermiut Fjord with local hosts.
Cruise
Tour Type
Cruise Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Ship Cabin, Hotel
Age Range
8-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Toronto, Reykjavik, Nuuk, Easter
Toronto, Reykjavik, Nuuk, Eastern Greenland, West Greenland
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Opportunities to witness a total solar eclipse are rare. Your chances of experiencing one in the Arctic—from the deck of a polar ship—are even more rare considering the last total solar eclipse north of the Arctic Circle occurred in 2015. The next will take place on August 12, 2026.To satisfy the demand of eclipse-watchers, this longer voyage has been introduced on one of Quark's newest ships, Ocean Explorer. Covering 2,200 nautical miles in total—this expedition features your bucket-list eclipse adventure, time to explore Northeast and South Greenland, plus you get to check off two of the world’s northernmost capital cities: the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik (64°08′ north), where you’ll have time to explore, and Nuuk, Greenland (64°11′ north), where we disembark for our charter flight back to Reykjavik.
World-renown eclipse-cartographer Michael Zeiler will be onboard to deepen your understanding of eclipse-viewing, observational astronomy and celestial mechanics. Of course, you’ll also get to witness waterfalls, towering cliffs and remote fishing villages in the Westfjords, a hidden gem of Iceland, as well as icebergs, wilderness areas, glaciers, and the deep fjords of Greenland.
Special guest Michael Zeiler: The highly respected author, geographer and eclipse cartographer is a member of the International Astronomical Union Working Group on Solar Eclipses – with an asteroid named in his honour. Zeiler has been witnessing solar eclipses since 1991 and was among the first to develop eclipse maps online.
Polar expeditions and cruise
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Reykjavik, Northeast Greenland N
Reykjavik, Northeast Greenland National Park, Northeast Greenland National Park, Westfjords, Denmark Strait
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Iceland, blending natural wonders, cultural highlights, and the rare spectacle of a Solar Eclipse. Begin by exploring the Reykjanes Peninsula, known for its dramatic landscapes, geothermal hot springs, and rugged mountains, followed by a relaxing soak in the iconic Blue Lagoon. Discover the charm of Reykjavík with a guided tour showcasing city highlights and local gourmet flavors. Witness the awe-inspiring Solar Eclipse as the sky darkens and day briefly turns to night, with specially designed glasses provided for safe viewing. Continue your adventure along the famous Golden Circle, visiting Þingvellir National Park, the erupting geysers, and the majestic Gullfoss waterfall. While at the Geysir area, enjoy a true taste of Iceland with hot spring bread, Icelandic butter, boiled eggs, and herring, making this experience a perfect blend of nature, culture, and cuisine!
Explorer
Tour Type
Independent TourTypically a private tour undertaken by one or two travelers
In the seldom-visited Westfjords of Iceland − ‘Iceland’s best-kept secret’ − you explore the rugged peninsula of fjords, towering mountains, bird-dwelling cliffs, gushing waterfalls and rolling green hills. Before leaving Iceland, you can also visit the private island sanctuary of Vigur, home to 7,000 eider ducks and 100,000 puffins. In East Greenland, after sailing the length of Ikerasassuaq (Prins Christian Sund), immerse yourself in spectacular glaciers, mountainous landscapes, culturally rich communities, and Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. Together, we explore − by ship, Zodiac, kayak and on foot − some of the longest fjords in Greenland, such as Eternity, Kangerlussuaq and Tasermiut. With the help of expert guides, you also learn about Norse and Viking cultures, traditional Icelandic ways of life, as well as contemporary Greenlandic customs.
Iceland, the mystical island nation sculpted by fire and ice, is popular for its thunderously cascading waterfalls, towering cliffs, geysers spontaneously erupting in full furies of steam, stunning shorelines dotted with fishing villages, expansive glaciers, rarely-visited wild places, and hard-to-reach coastal areas of breathtaking splendor.
Most visitors have confined themselves to very established tourist routes, largely by automobile, and thus have limited their experience of Iceland.
That’s the challenge we presented to our team of innovators: how can you do it all on a trip through Iceland? How can you authentically explore the entire country, take in all of its main attractions—while also exploring the rarely-visited side of Iceland?That kernel of inspiration led to the creation of our 12–day Iceland Circumnavigation: Helicopters, Glaciers and Volcanoes, which enables us to take travelers around the entire island—a complete circumnavigation starting and ending in Reykjavik—and explore by small polar ship, Zodiac, coach bus, kayak and helicopter.
The genesis for this adventure dates to November 24, 2003, the day Quark Expeditions became the first operator to successfully lead a total solar eclipse voyage in remote Antarctica.
On that day, we provided 100 people, from 17 different nations, the experience of becoming the first-ever humans to witness a total solar eclipse in Antarctica. Now we’ve decided to achieve a comparable feat in the Arctic. However, with innovation as our DNA, we set out to make it distinct from any other eclipse-viewing experience in the industry.
We’ve assembled a taskforce of eclipse experts, a meteorologist and members of our Expedition Team to research the geography, terrain, angles of the sun, and Arctic weather patterns to prepare for one of the rarest experiences on the planet – observing a total solar eclipse in the High Arctic.
In addition, you’ll discover the natural wonders of the Westfjords – the unsung wonder of West Iceland. Our journey also takes us into the immense Northeast Greenland National Park, where we cruise the 70mi (110km) King Oscar Fjord. You’ll also get to unleash your inner adventurer on thrilling heli-flightseeing adventures over remote Greenland on Ultramarine’s state-of-the-art helicopters.
Special Guests
David Baron: The veteran science journalist, broadcaster and umbraphile – who has witnessed nine total solar eclipses across the globe – is also the author of the award-winning American Eclipse: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World. Baron has travelled to every continent and more than 50 countries for work and pleasure.
Michael Zeiler: The highly respected author, geographer and eclipse cartographer is a member of the International Astronomical Union Working Group on Solar Eclipses – with an asteroid named in his honour. Zeiler has been witnessing solar eclipses since 1991 and was among the first to develop eclipse maps online.
Polar expeditions and cruise
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Reykjavik, Scoresbysund, Westfjo
Reykjavik, Scoresbysund, Westfjords, Northeast Greenland National Park, King Oscar Fjord
Iceland, the mystical island nation sculpted by fire and ice, is popular for its thunderously cascading waterfalls, towering cliffs, geysers spontaneously erupting in full furies of steam, stunning shorelines dotted with fishing villages, expansive glaciers, rarely-visited wild places, and hard-to-reach coastal areas of breathtaking splendor. But how does a traveler experience all the wonders Iceland has to offer? Most visitors have confined themselves to very established tourist routes, largely by automobile, and thus have limited their experience of Iceland. That’s the challenge we presented to our team of innovators: how can you do it all on a trip through Iceland? How can you authentically explore the entire country, take in all of its main attractions—while also exploring the rarely-visited side of Iceland? That kernel of inspiration led to the creation of our 12–day Iceland Circumnavigation: Helicopters, Glaciers and Volcanoes, which enables us to take travelers around the entire island—a complete circumnavigation starting and ending in Reykjavik—and explore by small polar ship, Zodiac, coach bus, kayak and helicopter.
It was a very good program to get to know Iceland and see a lot without having to drive around the island in a rush. I don't have the feeling that I missed out on seeing anything.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Iceland is a remote volcanic island, with mind-blowing landscapes and fascinating culture. With most of the country uninhabited, much of Iceland's terrain consists of plateaux, mountain peaks and fertile lowlands. The landscape is characterised by volcanoes, thundering waterfalls, geysers and geothermal hot springs, all accompanied by black sand beaches, bubbling mud pools and lava fields. Enjoy dramatic deep fjords, ideal for Zodiac cruising and some of the largest glaciers in Europe, whilst soaking up the abundance of birdlife. A circumnavigation of Iceland, is an experience not to be missed.
Keep watch for blow holes, breaching and tail flukes - as we spot whales in Húsavik
Westfjords offer some of the remotest fjords, bays and pristine environments in Iceland - perfect
for kayaking, hiking and bird-watching
Visit Vatnajökull National Park - featuring Europe's largest glacier, glacial lagoons, colourful mountains and rich wildlife
CruisePolar bestsellers
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers